A local businessman who wishes to remain anonymous told The Journal tonight that he's exploring the possibility of bringing an All-American Hockey League team to the Flint area in time for next season.

The AAHL is considered Single A hockey and is one step below the Double AA International Hockey League, which was home to the Flint Generals for the past three seasons before the club folded when it couldn't secure a lease with Perani Arena.

A new AAHL team wouldn't play at Perani Arena and the potential owner didn't want to disclose where the club would play. But he said a decision will have to be made soon and that the AAHL, which had four members last season, could perhaps double in size if a team from the Flint area is part of the circuit because other cities would follow.

Several AAHL players made the jump to the IHL last season. They included Generals forward Matt Moffat, who played for the Chi-Town Shooters of the AAHL before making the jump to Flint.

In 16 games with Chi-Town last season, Moffat had seven goals and six assists. In 52 regular-season games with the Generals, he had 12 goals and 18 assists. In 11 playoff games, he had two goals and two assists.

In 2008-09, Moffat had 30 goals and 40 assists in 32 games with Chi-Town.